1. Models of health and health promotion

2. The language of health: some key words
Diagnosis: identification of a disease or illness through medical observation of signs and symptoms, the patient’s history and tests
Intervention: any action to improve health or cure illness including the use of medication, hospitalisation or surgery
Prevention: any action to reduce or eliminate the onset, causes, complications or recurrence of disease or illness

3. What is a health model?
Models of health are ‘conceptual frameworks’ or ways of thinking about health
Three such models are:
The Biomedical Model of Health
The Social Model of Health
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

4. The biomedical model of health
Key principles of this model:
Focuses on ‘ill health’
Healthcare is a response to a ‘breakdown’ of the body
The absence of disease is synonymous with health
Each disease has a specific cause that acts upon the body

5. More key principles of this model:
Body is seen in isolation from social and environmental factors
This approach includes the use of medical technologies, pathology, laboratory testing, medication, surgery and hospitalisation

6. The social model of health
Key principles of this model:
Addresses the social and environmental determinants of health, not just the biomedical
Differences in health status are linked to gender, culture, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, working conditions, unemployment, housing end environment

7. More key principles of this model:
Health is not just the responsibility of the health sector – change requires collaboration
Aims to reduce inequality
Empowers individuals and communities to act for themselves
All people have the basic right to access affordable health care

8. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
Key principles of this model:
Eight key prerequisites for health
Peace
Shelter
Education
Food
Income
Stable ecosystem
Sustainable resources
Social justice and equity

9. More key principles of this model:
The Charter identifies 3 basic strategies for health promotion
Advocate
Enable
Mediate

10. More key principles of this model:
The Charter identifies 5 key action areas
Build healthy public policy
Create supportive environments
Strengthen community action
Develop personal skills
Reorient health service